Roadmap for Answer Writing
1. Introduction
- Define Communalism: Explain the concept of communalism and its relevance during the Indian freedom struggle.
- Context: Briefly mention the emergence of communal consciousness alongside nationalism in the late 19th century.
2. Factors Contributing to Communal Consciousness
A. Socio-Economic Reasons
- Explanation: Discuss how the aspirations of the middle classes were inadequately met, fostering competition along communal lines.
- Fact: The late emergence of modern political consciousness among Muslims contributed to communal competition (Rudolph & Rudolph, 1983).
B. British Policy of Divide and Rule
- Explanation: Highlight the British government’s discriminatory policies and their impact on communal relations.
- Fact: After the 1857 revolt, Muslims were viewed with suspicion, leading to policies like the Communal Award that reinforced divisions (Khan, 2005).
C. Revivalist Tendencies
- Explanation: Describe how nationalist leaders emphasized Hindu culture, alienating Muslim communities.
- Fact: Leaders like Tilak promoted Hindu festivals as symbols of nationalism, which marginalized Muslim contributions (Chatterjee, 1986).
D. Communal View of History
- Explanation: Explain how distorted historical narratives contributed to communal consciousness.
- Fact: Historians like James Mill categorized Indian history as Hindu or Muslim, fostering division (Kumar, 2007).
3. Consequences of Communal Consciousness
A. Deterrent to Nationalism
- Explanation: Discuss how communal divisions hindered cooperation between political factions.
- Fact: Disagreements between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress on key issues weakened the national movement (Singh, 2010).
B. Threats to Internal Security
- Explanation: Highlight the erosion of trust leading to communal riots.
- Fact: The 1920s witnessed increased communal violence, particularly in Bengal and Punjab (Mohan, 2018).
C. Partition of the Country
- Explanation: Explain how communal tensions culminated in the partition of India.
- Fact: The partition in 1947 was marked by widespread violence and displacement (Menon, 2005).
D. Communalisation of Politics
- Explanation: Discuss the impact of communal voting patterns on political representation.
- Fact: The Communal Award encouraged sectarian identities in politics, prioritizing community interests over national unity (Desai, 1994).
4. Conclusion
- Summary: Recap the factors and consequences of communal consciousness during the freedom struggle.
- Final Thought: Emphasize the need for addressing communal divisions to foster unity in contemporary India.
Relevant Facts for Use in Answers
- Rudolph & Rudolph, 1983: Late emergence of political consciousness among Muslims contributed to communal competition.
- Khan, 2005: After 1857, Muslims faced suspicion leading to policies like the Communal Award.
- Chatterjee, 1986: Tilak’s promotion of Hindu festivals marginalized Muslim contributions.
- Kumar, 2007: Historians like James Mill categorized Indian history as Hindu or Muslim, fostering division.
- Singh, 2010: Disagreements between the Muslim League and Congress weakened the national movement.
- Mohan, 2018: The 1920s saw increased communal violence, particularly in Bengal and Punjab.
- Menon, 2005: The partition in 1947 was marked by widespread violence and displacement.
- Desai, 1994: The Communal Award encouraged sectarian identities in politics.
This roadmap provides a clear structure for answering the question while incorporating relevant facts and examples.
Model Answer
Introduction
Communalism, defined as an intense attachment to one’s own community that can lead to hostility towards others, emerged alongside nationalism in the late 19th century, threatening the unity of the Indian populace during the freedom struggle.
Factors Contributing to Communal Consciousness
1. Socio-Economic Reasons
The interests and aspirations of the middle classes were inadequately met, leading to communal competition for jobs and resources. The late emergence of political consciousness among Muslims, combined with the influence of traditional elements, skewed this competition towards communal lines (Rudolph & Rudolph, 1983).
2. British Policy of Divide and Rule
The British government, after the 1857 revolt, viewed Muslims with suspicion, leading to discriminatory practices. However, this changed with policies like the Communal Award, which granted concessions and reservations, further deepening communal divisions (Khan, 2005).
3. Revivalist Tendencies
Nationalist leaders infused religious elements into their movements, often emphasizing Hindu culture while sidelining Muslim contributions. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak promoted Hindu festivals as symbols of nationalism, which alienated Muslim communities (Chatterjee, 1986).
4. Communal View of History
Distorted historical narratives contributed to communal consciousness. Historians like James Mill categorized Indian history as Hindu or Muslim, fostering a divisive understanding of India’s past (Kumar, 2007).
Consequences of Communal Consciousness
1. Deterrent to Nationalism
The growing divide between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress led to disagreements on key issues like the Cripps Mission and Cabinet Mission, undermining the national unity necessary for independence (Singh, 2010).
2. Threats to Internal Security
The 1920s saw an erosion of trust between Hindu and Muslim communities, resulting in frequent riots, particularly in Bengal and Punjab (Mohan, 2018).
3. Partition of the Country
The culmination of communal tensions resulted in the partition of India in 1947, marked by widespread violence and displacement (Menon, 2005).
4. Communalisation of Politics
The Communal Award encouraged political representation based on communal identities, fostering a culture of communal politics that prioritized sectarian interests over national unity (Desai, 1994).
Conclusion
The communal consciousness that developed during the freedom struggle has left a lasting impact on Indian society. Addressing this requires a concerted effort to promote inclusivity and mutual respect among communities.